Liverpool great Graeme Souness hit out at Mohammad Salah in the aftermath of Jurgen Klopp’s side turning out victors over West Ham United, with the Sky Sports pundit criticising the Reds’ frontman for his habit of diving whilst on the football pitch, reports the Daily Mail.
Salah went down in the Hammers’ penalty box following a challenge from Arthur Masuaku just as the opening 45 minutes at Anfield neared its end, and referee Kevin Friend was quick to point towards the spot, granting the Reds a great opportunity to level the scoreline.
The Egyptian international was clinical his spot-kick taking approach and put his side back in the game, which was ultimately sealed in their favour through a Diogo Jota goal in the 85th minute.
However, Salah’s actions in the first-half invited harsh criticism from Souness, who admitted that despite being a Liverpool FC supporter, it was hard for him to voice support for Salah’s conduct.
“I don’t give that if I’m a referee in the Premier League. I’ve seen Salah do this time and time again.
“This is totally an unnatural way to fall. Look, he doesn’t actually kick him, the West Ham player makes contact with his ankle.
“I think it’s careless and given an enormous invitation for Salah to throw himself to the ground.
“For me I think it’s a really harsh penalty and that’s coming from a Liverpool supporter.”
7 – Only Fernando Torres in 2009-10 (eight) has scored more goals in Liverpool's opening seven matches of a Premier League season than Mo Salah's seven this campaign. King. #LIVWHU https://t.co/UvzVIjw8xb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 31, 2020
Salah’s goal against West Ham United was his seventh of the new Premier League campaign and meant that he was now joint second in the top scorer’s charts, just one adrift of Tottenham Hotspurs talisman Son Heung-min.
